Spinnaker sailing course launches in Solent
Colourful Spinnakers
First Class Sailing is launching a brand-new spinnaker sailing weekend.
“The idea came directly from feedback and conversations with our sailing community,” says Charlie Tulloch, principal of First Class Sailing. “Many people expressed a strong interest in deepening their skills with the spinnaker, which is often considered one of the most exciting yet challenging sails to master. We saw an opportunity to create a focused, hands-on course that would not only meet this demand but also provide a fun experience for sailors looking to up their spinnaker game.”
Plus, the new course complements the business’ existing offering “by providing a specialised focus on an area that’s often covered only briefly in broader sailing courses. It fits perfectly alongside our RYA-certified courses, offering both a practical and enjoyable way for people to build on the skills they’ve developed from other courses and their own experiences.”
The spinnaker course is designed for people looking to improve their sailing skills and takes place over the duration of a weekend in the Solent. “Typically, this course will attract those who have some sailing experience and are looking to learn more – whether they’re interested in racing or just want to enjoy more faster cruising.”
Tulloch says the spinnaker is one of the most exciting sails to work with. “It’s challenging but incredibly rewarding, and this course is all about helping sailors build confidence while having a great time.” The two-day experience offers sailing on well-equipped yachts, with small groups, to make sure everyone gets plenty of attention and time at the helm and develops confidence with hoisting, trimming, gybing, and dropping.
It comes in at £549 for a single berth. That “includes two full days of instruction, use of our well-equipped yachts, a knowledgeable and friendly instructor, use of oilskins, and all food on-board. We believe it offers great value for the level of hands-on experience and attention participants will receive. The ratio is 4 students to 1 instructor. It’s a great way to build your skills and enjoy the thrill that comes with sailing under a spinnaker.”
On top of the hands-on sailing, the participants will also learn about spinnaker rigging, sail selection, and some of the latest techniques in spinnaker sailing.
Booking is open for the first spinnaker sailing weekend on 7 September 2024.
Given the positive response that the company has received so far, Tulloch says he anticipates making it a regular part of the course offerings moving forward and he hopes to add more dates soon.
